social enterprise hub - concept and space description 2

BUILDING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HUB 139-145 PRINCE EDWARD ST

OVERVIEW - 2014

133 Prince Edward St. Saint John, NB E2L 3S3 T: 506 652 5600 F: 506 652 5603 [email protected] www.loanfund.ca

we invest in ideas

that create income, build assets, and make change

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.loanfund.ca/

BUILDING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HUB Saint John Community Loan Fund

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Executive Summary

Social Enterprise Hub Description The Saint John Community Loan Fund has begun to plan a larger space to

foster creativity and entrepreneurship for poverty reduction. The 15,000

square foot building will be located at 139 Prince Edward St. and encompass

three floors.

The space will include the following: On the ground floor a social enterprise

cafeteria used for back to work training. Down the hall, micro-enterprises

launched through the Loan Fund are clustered and focused on a lean start up.

A maker space has a 3D printer enabling early stage prototyping. On the

second floor training occurs in rooms that can be collapsed and enlarged to

accommodate larger community events and pitch presentations. On the third

floor, enterprising non-profits work on poverty reduction. This is a floor where

synergy is created and innovative ideas hatch for reducing poverty. The building is tied together with

the latest technology enabling seamless communication for high level productivity.

The Loan Fund has invested $100,000 and has another $760,000 secured in commitments. We are

currently preparing our re-zoning package, beginning excavation, and finalizing financing with the

credit union. Our plan is to start the build in October 2014 and have this innovative building up and

running in August 2015!

We invite you to be part of this innovative impact space.


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Meeting the Need for Entrepreneurship This project is a place based development in a priority neighbourhood. Vibrant Communities Saint

John has identified six priority neighbourhoods of which the Waterloo Village is one. It is characterised

by a high poverty rate and a low home ownership rate. Yet it is centrally located, close to major

corporations, a community school and green space. This is the location of 139 Prince Edward St.

This project addresses the goals outlined in Plan SJ: to

intensify mixed use development in the Waterloo Village and

the Prince Edward St. arterial; to attract new investment to

the community, and ensure home-grown industries are

retained and expanded; and to develop a culture of

entrepreneurship.

This project addresses the Provincial Government’s goal of promoting entrepreneurship and

innovation in New Brunswick through creating centres of entrepreneurship. It is about creating new

jobs and wealth and attracting new investment. It links in with the Economic and Social Inclusion

Corporation’s work to develop a robust social enterprise ecosystem.

This project addresses the Federal Government’s goal of building the economies of Atlantic Canada

through investing in projects that enhance a community’s capacity to overcome economic

development challenges.

This project builds desperately needed quality space for enterprising non-profits working to launch

social enterprises. A quick survey of our partners working in poverty reduction indicates a need for

quality space where tenancy is stable.

Target Customer (YOU!) and the Value Proposition There are three primary customers for the space: enterprising non-profits; micro-entrepreneurs; and,

early stage social enterprises. They value this location for the following reasons: cluster effect for

innovation, for purchasing, and for leveraging investment; leading technology; multiple and flexible

meeting spaces; central location; affordable rent; and, enterprise support (via Loan Fund).


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Key partners The project developer is the Saint John Community Loan Fund (Loan Fund), a

non-profit charitable organization established in 1999, whose mission is to

improve social conditions by promoting economic independence and fostering

entrepreneurship. For more than 10 years it has been helping individuals

create income, build assets, and attain greater self-reliance by providing

training, micro-loans, coaching, and good, secure, affordable

apartments. In 2009, it bought and renovated a

partially vacant building for office space and two

affordable apartments. Neighbours were amazed at

the transformation. It was a risk and it paid off; not

only for the Loan Fund, but for the neighbourhood.

For more information please go to

www.loanfund.ca.

The key social enterprise partner in the project and the

source of 30% of projected rent revenue is the Saint John

Learning Exchange. Established 30 years ago, it helps

adults attain their GED. This focus includes training in

transferable work skills and helping individuals

transition to employment. The Learning Exchange is

also experimenting with social enterprise. It runs

Stone Soup Catering and recently launched Voila, a

green cleaning company. The SJ Learning Exchange and the

Loan Fund are in final negotiations with the Federal Government to

launch a 5 year project that will help build social enterprises in Saint John.

The Pond Deshpande Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has emerged as an accelerator of

social enterprise and entrepreneurship in the region. It has committed to renting space in the Social

Enterprise Hub because it wants an ongoing footprint in Saint John; a place for pitch events, for

enterprise launches and incubating emerging entrepreneurs.

Enterprising non-profits engaged in poverty reduction also want to be part of the Hub. They include

Vibrant Communities SJ and Saint John Human Development Council. We are also in early discussions

with other key organizations such as the United Way and WEN.


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1st Floor

Start Here Centre

400 sq ft

The main entry will have a front desk and assistant who

will provide orientation to anyone coming into the Hub.

This position will be an opportunity to transition clients

to work by providing a mentored work opportunity.

Business Incubation Space

800 sq ft

Micro-businesses that have been started through the Loan

Fund will share approximately 800 square feet of space in a

mix of closed and open office space. Micro-businesses have access to a shared fax-copier, meeting

space, a cafeteria down the hall, business support, and each other!

Social Enterprise Café

600 sq ft

Stone Soup Catering is a social enterprise caterer that was started by

the Leanring Exchange. It is a transition to work opportunity for their

clients, while providing a necessary good food option on site. They will be the

tenant and manager of this cafeteria/catering space. A space that can also be

rented for food mentoring programming, and used for community functions.


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2nd Floor

Training Rooms

5 x 500 sq ft

The Saint John Learning Exchange (Learning Exchange)

was established in 1984. It provides GED preparation and

foundational literacy upgrading. The Learning Exchange

knows literacy is a component of earning a living

wage and understands the need to provide

responsive and supportive programming to assist

learners on that journey.

Offices

15 x 80 sq ft

The Saint John Learning Exchange employs ten trainers

and five job developers. Their work is key in moving individuals

through training with over 50% achieving their GED. Those who

cannot achieve their GED are trained in workplace essential

skills and may have an opportunity to work in transitional work

settings to build their skills for reaching their goals for

employment.


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Meeting Rooms - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Floors

Special Event and Pitch Room

Large 800 sq ft

With various organizations in one location, we share

meeting rooms which means we have more variety at

our disposal. This is where we host our own and other

pitch events, as well as larger training sessions that can

accommodate 50-70 people.

Strategy Rooms

2 x 400 sq ft

We will have two of these size rooms which can

accommodate 15 people. This is where the

designated committees and boards work to build

strategy for innovative solutions to grow.

One-on-One Idea Generation

3 x 150 sq ft

Whether working with a client to support their quest or working

with a couple of partners, these rooms are about having a space for

building that initial idea and supporting it. Many important steps

will start right here.


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3rd Floor

Collaborating for Social and Economic Innovation

5000 sq ft

This floor will have three to five non-profit organizations focused

on poverty reduction using a collaborative entrepreneurial model.

Spaces will be a combination of separate offices, open work

stations and meeting spaces. The groups we have on board include

the ED and Social Enterprise Officers of the SJ Learning Exchange,

staff of the Saint John Community Loan Fund, Staff of the SJ

Human Development Council, social entrepreneurs sponsored by

the Pond Deshpande Centre, and Vibrant Communities Staff.

Discussions are ongoing with other groups that fit this model and

want to explore innovative strategies to community impact.

Career counselling offices

This is an office area possibly shared by NBCC, UNBSJ and a wellness counsellor. It will enable both

career and wellness counselling be available for the 100s of clients passing through the building.


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Interested in being part of the Social Enterprise Hub?

Interested in occupying a space that integrates social and economic goals?

That supports micro and social entrepreneurship? That supports

neighbourhood impact, and solutions that reduce poverty and retain our

population for our community, province and region?

Please Contact Us

Seth Asimakos

Co-Founder and General Manager

Saint John Community Loan Fund

652-5600

[email protected]

Christina Fowler

Executive Director

Saint John Learning Exchange

648-0202

[email protected]

Current Loan Fund

location



social enterprise hub - concept and space description 2

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